Personally

3.III. 1922 г.

т. Kamenev

т. Kamenev! I see that I probably won't be able to read the report at the Congress1. The deterioration in my illness after three months of treatment is evident: I was "consoled" by the fact that I was exaggerating about the Axelrodov condition, and behind the clever occupation of consoling and exclaiming "exaggerating! imagination!" - three months passed.

Russian, Soviet style.

NB || I will try to prepare. But prepare yourself as well. My report is also important at the Congress and Plenum of the CEC. I am very much afraid that I will not be able to do it either there or here. I think a report is more likely, for it has turned out that I cannot stand conversations and meetings worse than "to say once every six months". I must think over how to protect myself from surprises, how to be. Perhaps it could be: You prepare the report, and I will make an introduction in case? Or should I prefer to take part in the plenum and only that2*, and throw out my report altogether? We must think it over carefully.

Lenin.

P.S. Keep in mind that the exchange of short notes (I apologize very much for writing long notes myself today) is more nerve-racking than talking (for I can think it over, postpone it for an hour, etc.). I ask you very much to get a stenographer and send me notes of 5-10 lines more often (in front of the Pol[it]bureau). I think an hour or two and I will reply.

Lenin.

Published - "Izvestiya TsK CPSU", 1989, No. 1, p. 215.

Fund 2, op. 1, d. 27047 - autograph.

1* V.I.Lenin wrote instead of the crossed out: "more".

2* V.I.Lenin wrote instead of crossed out: "all".

1Referring to Lenin's speeches at the XI Congress of the RCP(b). On March 27, 1922 Lenin made a speech at the opening of the Congress and the political report of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), on March 28 - with a closing speech on the political report of the Central Committee of the RCP(b), on April 2 - with a speech on the issue of printing advertisements in Pravda and a speech at the closing of the Congress (see: Lenin V.I. Complete Collected Works, vol. 45, pp. 67-130, 135- 138).